Pupils, staff and families at Gorse Covert Primary School have fallen head over heels for a very special new arrival — Dora, a four-month-old cockapoo puppy who is beginning her journey to become the school’s therapy dog.
Owned by headteacher Gill Poole, Dora started visiting school at just three months old and has already become a huge hit across the school community. From bouncing through the gates each morning to charming everyone she meets, Dora has quickly made herself at home.
Dora was carefully chosen with both breed and temperament in mind. With her friendly nature and low-shedding coat, she is well suited to a school environment, and staff have taken great care to ensure her introduction has been gradual, positive and centred around her wellbeing.
Any early concerns about whether such a young puppy might feel overwhelmed by school life were soon put to rest. Dora has taken it all in her stride and is thriving on the attention. In fact, there is often a queue of staff waiting to take her for walks during their breaks.
The decision to introduce a school dog was made to support emotional wellbeing and strengthen the sense of belonging across the school community. Gorse Covert Primary School includes both a mainstream setting and a designated provision for children with autism, and Dora is already beginning to show the positive impact a calm and gentle animal can have.
Even in these early stages, Dora is helping some children to feel calmer and more regulated simply through her presence. She is also giving pupils the opportunity to learn about caring for animals and to play a part in her training, which they have embraced with great enthusiasm.
Headteacher Gill Poole said: “I have always dreamt of having a school therapy dog because I know the comfort, calm and happiness that animals can bring. Having seen firsthand the difference a dog can make to a child’s emotional wellbeing, I wanted to bring that experience into school.
“When my autistic son was growing up, our family dog, Poppy, had an incredible calming influence on him. At times when he was dysregulated, Poppy could help him settle very quickly. Seeing the comfort and reassurance that bond brought inspired me to want the same kind of joy and support for the children in our school community.
“Dora has already made such a positive difference. We knew she would have an impact on the children, but I do not think we fully appreciated the boost she would also bring to staff wellbeing. She brings so much joy, energy and warmth wherever she goes.”
The children chose Dora’s name themselves, inspired by Dora the Explorer — a fitting choice for such a curious and adventurous character.
For now, Dora’s main job is simply to be a puppy — getting used to the sights, sounds and routines of school life. As she grows and progresses with her training, the school hopes she will take on a wider role, including listening to children read, offering comfort when they are feeling worried or upset, and continuing to support wellbeing across the school.
Dora has already embraced school life with enthusiasm and even dressed up for World Book Day as Thing 1 as part of the school’s Dr Seuss theme.
With her playful personality, wagging tail and growing fan club, Dora may still be in training — but she is already proving to be one of the most popular members of the Gorse Covert Primary School team.
